Kiltale booked their place in the Brendan Davis Cup final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday with a superb team performance over near neighbours Kilmessan.Kilmessan had no answer to the blistering start that saw Kiltale out-gun their rivals by 3-07 to one point after just 11 minutes through goals from Adam Murphy, Fergal McCabe and Mark O’Sullivan with the points coming from Jack Regan (5), James Kelly and one from McCabe.
Kilmessan responded and got three out of the next four scores – Regan adding another point for Kiltale – but three points in three minutes from the unstoppable Murphy meant the blues were kept at arms length as half time approached. However the game was over as a contest when Chris Reilly found the net in first half injury time.
Kiltale went into the break leading 4-13 to 0-07The team in maroon and green hoops took the foot off the pedal in the second half making some positional changes and bring in three substitutes before the second water break. Points from Murphy (2), Regan and substitute Stephen Donoghue had increased the lead early in the second half before Luke Horan’s goal for Kilmessan gave his side some brief hope.
Kiltale made further changes with twins Ross and Ronan Ryan making their season debuts as the game petered out to it’s conclusion.
In the final quarter Reilly added three points to his earlier goal and points from McCabe and Ross Ryan sealed a big win for Kiltale who will meet Trim in the final.
Kiltale:1. Conor Ryan 2. Iarla Hughes 3. David Donoghue 4. Brian O’Reilly 5. Conor Shirren 6. James Kelly (0.02) 7. Eamon Ryan 8. Padraig Kelly 9. Conor McNally 10. Cathal McCabe 11. Jack Regan (0.08 – 4f) 12. Fergal McCabe (1-03) 13. Adam Murphy (1-05) 14. Chris Reilly (1.03 -1 ’65’) 15. Mark O’Sullivan (1.00).Subs: 17. Stephen Donoghue (0.01) for Regan 18. Gavan McVann for C. McCabe 20. Ross Ryan (0.01) for McNally 21. Ronan Ryan for James Kelly 22. Sean Hughes for Adam Murphy